I would do anything to see the look on my editor's face when she reads this article (giggle … wicked giggle)! She wanted me to write a piece on achievement and success, and she wanted me to share my personal story – being successful and all (another giggle)! Let me start by saying that most people's definition of success is the actual meaning of failure!
How do you define success my dear reader?
Landing that dream job with that juicy paycheck in that huge corporation?
Getting promoted every 6 months?
Taking over your boss's position?
Getting bonuses, salary increases, and thank you notes?
Is that it?
Is it the German car, the American education, the British passport, the villa in uptown Cairo, and the diamonds you own?
Is it measured by the number of people who open doors for you – those who seem to bow when you pass them by?
Is it related to how many degrees you hold, how many languages you master, or how many visas are stamped on your passport?
I do not blame you! I thought so too!
Then I failed!
Yes! In the eyes of many people who knew me I have become a failure!
And now, I want you to fail! I would love to see you fail … just like me!
The sad truth is:
Working in an American company does not make you American (you will always be referred to as a local)
The more money you make the more of a failure you become (you become an addict who is a slave to the monthly pay slip)
The higher you grow in position the worse your fall becomes (you become the job not the person who does the job)
The more of a go-getter you are the more of a loser you become (you turn into that insatiable nymph that no one likes to go to bed with)
The more bonuses and raises you get the more enslaved you become (this is the master's pat on your little enslaved head … tips you could call it)
The more the assets and possessions the more the fear of losing them (you are no longer the owner of that car; the car is your owner)
If this is success to you then enjoy it! I wish you a great life! But if you are willing to read onwards, let me tell you what success is and how achievement feels like. Success is liberating and achievement is soaring high in an open sky!
You are successful when you realize that you are not your business card! You are not the company you work for! You are not the title you hold! You are not the money you make! You are not the business trips you get sent to! You are not the meetings you attend! You are not the number of business suits you own! You are not the brand names you carry on you!
You are successful when you wake up every morning looking forward to another day of whatever it is you do! When at the end of a work day you are buzzing with life! When you enjoy the job no matter where you work! When you really do what you are good at and the more you do it the better you become! When thinking of work puts a smile on your face! When talking about your job makes your eyes glow!
You are successful when you know that no matter what happens you will never starve! When you enjoy spending the money just as much as you enjoyed making it! When you know that there is more of where that money came from! When you are positive that no matter how rough it gets you will be ok – because you have yourself to rely on!
You are successful when are no longer afraid! You no longer fear losing your job, losing your position, or losing money – because you have faith in yourself and that this is something that no one can take away from you. You can always start over and that whatever you do will be simply brilliant!
You are successful when you do not fear or resist change! When you are willing to experiment with new jobs or different careers! When you see the untrodden path and do not get intimidated by how lonesome it could get out there! When you have an eye for opportunities and you seize them!
You are successful when you can afford to be true to yourself! When you can look yourself in the mirror and smile! When you can go to bed at night and sleep well! When you do not have to bend over backward or forward for anyone; you have firm beliefs and a strong code of ethics that guides you when you are tested and tried.
Guess What!
When you become that person – viewed by many as a failure – you will truly know what achievement means.
When you believe in yourself, when you do what you enjoy and what you are good at (competitive edge so to speak), when you are not attached to anyone or anything for materialistic reasons, and when you are guided by your inner compass, people will automatically look up to you because you are worthy of their respect and admiration, job owners will hold on to you because you have integrity and competency, and you will finally fulfill your full potential.
My dear reader, find your passion and pursue it, set your own rules and respect them, believe in yourself or no one will believe in you, have pride in whatever you decide to do with your life, take yourself seriously, and free yourself from the slavery of money, power, fame, and illusions of grandeur!
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